Wear and tear on Braidon Small’s knees have curtailed the popular Warrnambool jumps jockey’s season.
Small, 31, was absent from last Sunday’s jumps meeting at Coleraine and will be missing from the riding ranks for the last jumps day of 2022, at Ballarat on August 28.
“I’ve been in a lot of pain with both my knees,” Small said. “I can’t wait until I get them both cleaned out in Melbourne on September 6.
“My right knee is worse, and that goes back to a trial fall about five years ago. The surgeon has said I’m too young to get my knees replaced but he’ll clean them out and hopefully I won’t be in much pain.
“I’ve also had a few issues with my right shoulder after a fall but it’s not too bad now. I’ve had a cortisone injection, which has helped it.”
Small is disappointed he’ll miss the ride on promising jumper Yulong Place in the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat, having ridden the seven-year-old into second place in the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown on August 7.
“Yulong Place won’t get my weight in the Grand National Steeplechase,” he said. “My riding weight is 66kg and Yulong Place will get less than that in the National.
“It’s a real shame I can’t ride him because I reckon he’ll be a good chance. I won steeplechases on him at Hamilton and Warrnambool earlier this year before finishing second in the Thackeray and then the Crisp.
“Flying Agent looks the one to beat on his current form but I reckon Yulong Place is a really good place chance.”
The father of two said he’s looking forward to continuing his career as a jumps jockey in 2023.
Camp on National trail
Simon Ryan will use a maiden on the flat at Warrnambool on Tuesday as the final stepping stone for tough jumper Police Camp to the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat on August 28.
The popular Warrnambool trainer said Police Camp, who ran second in this year’s Grand Annual Steeplechase in May, needs the flat race over 2350 metres at his home track before Victoria’s last jumps feature for 2022.
“The flat race should sharpen him up for the National,” Ryan said.
“He’s had a great campaign with a second placing in the Annual, a third in the Brierly and a fourth in the Thackeray.
“We just need a heavy track at Ballarat. All his best form is on heavy ground and I’m confident the 4500 metres of the Grand National will be no worries as he’s run a strong second in the Annual (5500m).
“Flying Agent is the horse to beat. He’s got great form going in. But I’d be satisfied with a placing by Police Camp.”
From his 28 jumps starts Police Camp has four wins and seven minor placings.
Trip, track suit Lincoln
Mr Lincoln rewarded Tower Hill trainer Chris Ryan for his patience by winning a maiden over 2400 metres at Bendigo on Sunday.
The four-year-old was having his fourth start, having been purchased for $2000 at a 2019 Inglis weanling sale.
Mr Lincoln ($15) beat Larabelle by 3½ lengths, taking his earnings bank to $21,950.
Ryan said Mr Lincoln, who was ridden by Teo Nugent, had been crying out for distance races.
“He’s bred to get out over more ground (by Melbourne Cup winner Americain) and this ticks another box as we now know he’s good on heavy tracks.
“We’ve just taken our time with him. I think we might give him one or two more runs before we give him a break.”
Arron on fire
Versatile jockey Arron Lynch took the honours at Coleraine on Sunday with three winners on the seven-race program — two over the jumps and one in a highweight flat race.
His winners were Castrofrancaru ($3.80 favourite) for John Leek in a maiden hurdle, Heir To The Throne ($1.60 favourite) for Andrea Leek in a restricted hurdle and Let’s Atom ($4.60) in 0-58 company for Shayne Fisher.
Irish-born Willie McCarthy booted home two of the other three winners. He won the Great Western Steeplechase on $3.60 favourite Roland Garros for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and a 0-58 over 2250 metres on Davelliom for Julie Scott.
In it to win it
Warrnambool-based  Daniel Bowman, Tom Dabernig and Aaron Purcell are trainers to have entered horses for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes in 2023.
Bowman put in three entries, Dabernig 16 and Purcell two for Victoria’s richest two-year-old race, to be run on February 25.
In total 1544 juveniles were entered.
The 2023 Blue Diamond will be run at Sandown as Caulfield undergoes renovations.